21% of Americans Have Yet to Discover the Internets

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 by Andy Beal

21% of Americans Have Yet to Discover the Internets

It’s like I’ve always said. This “internet” is just a fad that will never catch on.

Err, wait. Some people actually believe that? Well, if a new survey from Parks Associates is to be believed, there’s a huge slice of Americans that haven’t embraced the web yet.

Take a look at this chart…

OK, so the data is slightly skewed–half of those that have never used email are over 65–but it’s still kind of startling.

I honestly can think of just two people in my life that would fall in to all of the above categories–my grandparents. But, they’re both in their eighties.

What about you? Aside from your family, do you know anyone that’s never used a computer or surfed the web?

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14 comments on “21% of Americans Have Yet to Discover the Internets”

May 20, 2008: Around the Web in Blogging | BlogOnExpo Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:10 am

[...] If a new survey from Parks Associates, there’s a huge slice of Americans that haven’t embraced the web yet. 21% to be exact….what??!! - MarketingPilgrim [...]
Charles Barthold Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am

How much of that 21 percent is due to demographics? In other words, people who can’t afford a computer or don’t have easy access to a library or school?

Charles Barthold’s last blog post..Journalism as a business — quote of the day
Nick Bostic Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:22 am

My grandfather is in his late 80s. He emails all day long, chats with other 80+ year old friends on Skype and designed and coded the web sites for his local Lions Club and Homeowners Association. He definitely doesn’t fit that “study”.

Nick Bostic’s last blog post..6 Ways Microsoft is Sending Customers to Apple by Listening to their Customers
Andy Beal Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am

@Charles - good point. But, “never” done any of these tasks? You’d think more would have done so at least once.

@Nick - no, he doesn’t! Good for him!
Arthur Freydin Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am

I wonder what they classify as internet use.

Nearly everything these days is connected via the internet so it’s hard to imagine that 21% of the population has had nothing to do with it.

Also, where was this survey administered and to who?

To answer your question, my girlfriend’s parents are in their 70s and use the internet to do everything from sending daily emails to vacation planning to create greeting cards.
Also, English is my mom’s distant second language (Russian being the primary) and she is on the internet every week to pay bills.

Arthur Freydin’s last blog post..Web Analysts Aren’t the Only Ones That Love Analytics
Jordan McCollum Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

It’s the opposite of “If you build it, they will come”—”If you ignore it, it will go away.”
Web Browser Says:

May 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

New generation is coming… Not so long to wait
Web Browser’s last blog post..Opera Software Reveals ?State of the Mobile Web? Data
Mobile PC Says:

May 21st, 2008 at 6:36 am

The all of those 21% will search info with help of thiers mobile phones. Mobile web search will grow fast.

Mobile PC’s last blog post..Asus EeePC 901 will be available on June 3
Barbara Ling Says:

May 21st, 2008 at 9:36 am

My mom has never used a computer.

On the other hand, my 5 year old son can troubleshoot his computer when problems pop up.

Go figure. It must be a new fashion release in the genes.

Barbara

Barbara Ling’s last blog post..21 Days to a more profitable blog - Day 2! Enhance your blog to compel word-of-mouth
Andy Beal Says:

May 21st, 2008 at 9:49 am

@Barbara - too funny!
Musashi Says:

May 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I cant imagine not using the internet. My Laptop is online 24/7 and i use the internet for every kind of research i have to do. Want to know whats on TV? I find it on the internet. Want to find an english word? (I am german speaking) => Use Google
Want to find some facts? Google and Wikipedia are my friends.
Higher Education Marketer Unplugging for the Weekend | .eduGuru Says:

May 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm

[...] 21% of Americans Have Yet to Discover the Internets - Some interesting data and analysis from Marketing Pilgrim. The internet is important, but some audiences, mainly older audiences still completely ignore it. [...]
Incredibile: il 21% degli americani non ha mai usato Internet ma… | Totale|il blog di Nereo Sciutto Says:

May 25th, 2008 at 9:02 am

[...] Leggevo ieri di una ricerca in cui gli Stati Uniti si interrogano scandalizzati sul perché il 18% delle loro abitazioni non siano ancora connesse a Internet e su un imbarazzante 21% che dichiara di non aver mai usato la posta elettronica o fatto ricerche in Internet (qui e soprattutto qui). [...]
Juicy Links: May 19 - May 23 : Exclusive Concepts Blog Says:

May 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am

[...] 21% of Americans Have Yet to Discover the Internets [...]

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